Sports
Arsenal need support, love, after Champions League exit – Arteta
Arsenal need support, love, after Champions League exit – Arteta
Mikel Arteta says he has to show his Arsenal side “support and love” after Bayern Munich knocked them out of the Champions League.
Joshua Kimmich’s second-half header in Germany gave Bayern a 1-0 win on the night, and a 3-2 aggregate victory in their quarter-final.
It was a second successive defeat for Arsenal, who lost control of the Premier League title race last Sunday as Aston Villa beat them 2-0.
“I wish I had the right words to say to the players to make them feel better. What I am going to do – and all the coaching staff too – is to be close to the players.” Arteta said.
“I feel so grateful to be the coach and to work with them every single day.”
Arsenal were chasing a first Champions League semi-final spot since 2009, with Arteta accepting his team were inexperienced at this stage of the competition.
This was their first quarter-final appearance since 2010.
“We haven’t played this competition for seven years and we haven’t been in this stage for 14 years,” he said. “There’s a reason for it.
“We want to do everything fast-forward, super-quick, in one season. I think we have the capacity and the quality to be in the semi-final because the margins are very small.
“Those margins are coming from something else that maybe we don’t have yet. We have to learn it.
“When you look historically, it took other clubs seven, eight or 10 years to do it. Today, that’s not going to make us feel better that’s for sure.”
The Gunners, who need City to drop points if they are to win the league for the first time since 2003-04, return to Premier League action at Wolves on Saturday.
“What I need to do is stand right next to them and give them support and our love and we have to pick it up because on Saturday we have a big, big game,” said Arteta.
“We are still playing for the Premier League. The Premier League is there and we really want it. We have to show now that we are capable of turning this around.”
Sports
Paris 2024: Brazil beat the Super Falcons in opening game
Paris 2024: Brazil beat the Super Falcons in opening game
The Super Falcons began their campaign at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games on a shaky footing, losing 0-1 to Brazil in their first match.
Nigeria came into the game on the back of an impressive showing at the 2023 FIFA World Cup and an eight-game unbeaten run.
They started the match well, missing a couple of chances to have taken the lead in the French city of Bordeaux.
Many thought the team would go into the tunnel with the lead or at least all square with the South Americans. But Gabi Nunez finished off finely with about eight minutes to the end of the first half to give Coach Randy Waldrum’s side a mountain to climb in the second half.
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Upon the resumption of the second half, the Nigerians rallied to get back into the game. But their final balls were rarely threatening the Brazilian defence.
Despite running some changes and bringing in fresh legs to push for an equaliser, the Brazilians defended gallantly to deny the Super Falcons the leveller.
Nigeria’s next game is against world champions Spain. That match is on the 28th of July before the team take on Japan on the 31st.
In the other Group C game, Spain saw off Japan 2-1 while the US defeated Zambia 3-0 in a Group B tie. France mauled Colombia 3-0 in a Group A encounter on the same day.
Paris 2024: Brazil beat the Super Falcons in opening game
Sports
PSG not giving up on Osimhen, seek further slash in price
PSG not giving up on Osimhen, seek further slash in price
Paris Saint-Germain is still negotiating a lower transfer fee for Napoli striker Victor Osimhen as they pursue the Nigeria international this summer.
According to transfer market expert Gianluca Di Marzio, PSG are poised to retake the lead in their pursuit of the Napoli striker.
In contrast, Italian sports news outlet La Gazzetta dello Sport reports that the French champions are still dissatisfied with Napoli’s reduced asking price of £100 million.
“The Parisian club would in fact have decided to take a step back. President Al-Khelaifi considers the 100 million euros excessive, believing that with De Laurentiis he is making the same mistake as last summer,” the report stated.
Napoli had initially demanded the full payment of Osimhen’s £130m release clause, a figure that has deterred many potential suitors. PSG, however, have refused to meet this valuation and are hoping for a further reduction in the price.
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The prolonged negotiations have reportedly left Osimhen frustrated, with Italian publication Tutto Napoli suggesting that the striker is now open to considering offers from Saudi Arabian clubs Al-Ahli and Al-Hilal.
“Osimhen is fed up, a prisoner of his golden contract. De Laurentiis will probably grant discounts on the clause but not sales,” Tutto Napoli wrote.
As the transfer saga continues, PSG may need to offload either Goncalo Ramos or Randal Kolo-Muani to make room for Osimhen.
Interestingly, Chelsea have reportedly been offered the chance to sign these two PSG forwards, potentially holding the key to Osimhen’s move to the French capital.
Osimhen, who joined Napoli in 2020 for a club-record fee, has been in impressive form, scoring 41 league goals in the past two seasons and helping the club secure their first Scudetto in over three decades.
PSG not giving up on Osimhen, seek further slash in price
Sports
Two Saudi clubs eye Osimhen amid PSG stalled deal
Two Saudi clubs eye Osimhen amid PSG stalled deal
With options fast drying up for Victor Osimhen, it has now been reported that top Saudi Arabian clubs Al Ahli and Al Hilal are now pulling all the stops to sign the Napoli striker.
Osimhen continues the pre-season with Napoli and will join the team in Castel Di Sangro for the second part of preparation while waiting for a move to PSG.
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Corriere dello Sport and Gazzetta claimed that a move to the French capital is now a priority for Osimhen. Tuttosport reported last week that the striker has already agreed personal terms with the club.
However, the French giants must sell Gonçalo Ramos or Randal Kolo Muani before sending an official offer to Napoli. PSG are unlikely to pay the entire €130m clause, but Napoli will look for at least €100m.
Two clubs who can surely match Napoli’s demands are Al-Ahli and Al-Hilal in the Saudi Pro League. According to Il Corriere dello Sport, both sides are waiting for the developments of PSG talks with Osimhen before making a formal bid.
Two Saudi clubs eye Osimhen amid PSG stalled deal
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